Difference between revisions of "Steel Ministry"

There are many philosophers in the Steel Ministry and most end up in the Canton of Resource, the best place for those with analytical minds.{{annotationwob ref|mb3|chapter=437766}} This Canton is tasked with trade, transport, and taxation. A big portion of the [[atium]] mined at the [[Pits of Hathsin]] is secretly transported by the Canton of Resource. Atium beads are disguised as and hidden in Ministry funds, since metal coins radiate powerful light in the [[Cognitive Realm]], which keeps [[Ruin]] from noticing where the god metal goes.{{book ref|mb3|79}} It is also in charge of maintaining supply lines to the other Cantons, for feeding the people and maintaining the canals.{{book ref|mb3|44}}

Obligators were distinguished by their shaved heads and intricate tattoos around their eyes to signify their rank and Canton membership.{{book ref|mb1|1}}{{book ref|mb1|27}} They typically wore dark grey robes. The obligators would have to be called in to witness or approve anything significant going on in the Final Empire. They were required to practice their religion and maintain a religious air with devotion that was unnecessary for nobles. Part of those requirements were daily prayers and ceremonies to the Lord Ruler.{{annotationwob ref|mb3|chapter=347695}} Obligators were allowed to marry.{{wob ref|1077}}

In addition to their bureaucratic functions the obligators served as the [[Lord Ruler]]'s religious leaders. They would teach the [[Lord Ruler]]'s religion to [[skaa]] and noblemen alike.{{annotationwob ref|mb2|chapter=485422}} Obligators determine who the nobility is allowed to marry as part of their duties.{{book ref|mb1|23}}

*Prelan [[Aradan Yomen]]: Canton of Resource{{book ref|mb2|27}}{{annotationwob ref|mb3|chapter=437766}}

The Steel Ministry was notorious for taking bribes. It functioned similar to being its own noble house, with contracts and agreements to gain wealth and leverage. Corruption was commonplace during the Final Empire.{{wob ref|5498}} Rising through the ranks of the Ministry was very influenced by Allomantic abilities. Those with abilities, especially with metals judged to be valuable, rose quickly and were placed in positions of power.{{annotationwob ref|hoa|chapter=748038}} [[Atium]] mistings were one of the most valuable. In order to search them out and recruit them, Inquisitors would put trace amounts of the godmetal into the nobility's drinks at balls periodically. They would then cause a disturbance while burning bronze to seek out those who began to burn the metals instinctively. When someone joined the Ministry who was not already a Misting, they would unknowingly be given a larger amount of atium and forced through a series of rituals designed to drain the recruit physically so his body would Snap and reactively burn the metal.{{wob ref|6119}} Both men and women could be part of the Steel Ministry and some women even became Inquisitors.{{wob ref|5533}}

Daily prayer was a facet of the religion.{{annotationwob ref|mb3|chapter=347695}} There is a ritual that involves an altar made of gold. It is centered in a room with four candelabra at the corners. Near the altar, [[Alendi's journal]], written in Khlenni, was kept. Near the doorway, a bowl of small, triangular knives was kept on a pillar to be used in the ritual.{{book ref|mb1|14}} The knives were occasionally used for the worshipper to slice their own body.{{annotationwob ref|mb3|chapter=347695}} Marsh later uses these triangle knives as a weapon of choice. The Ministry teaches the basic doctrine that the nobility has prestige and allomancy because of their ancestors' loyalty to the Lord Ruler, while the skaa were punished for the sins of their own ancestors. The Mistborn are taught to be descendents of the only men who supported the Lord Ruler before his Ascension.{{book ref|mb1|3}}{{book ref|mb1|7}} The Lord Ruler is revered as the creator and savior of the world, the Sliver of Infinity.{{book ref|mb1|8}} His status in the religion is as a piece of God, not omnipresent or omniscient. He's a physical, independent section of a consciousness.{{book ref|mb1|10}} Before his Ascension, he was only a mortal man.{{book ref|mb1|17}} He is taught to have saved the people from the Deepness and punished their lack of faith with the ash and mists.{{book ref|mb1|6}}

Skaa and nobles alike were required to fulfil their roles in the Empire and obey the Lord Ruler, but neither devotion nor faith was requested. Skaa aren't taught much of the Ministry's doctrine.{{book ref|mb1|7}} Weddings were characterized only by the presence of an obligator to witness the fact. Sometimes additional ceremonies would be added, but there wasn't a standard; the obligator's presence was the only requirement.{{annotationwob ref|mb2|chapter=485422}} Worship of any other god was forbidden. {{book ref|mb1|9}}

Obligators were originally just called priests and the Steel Ministry was called the Steel Priesthood, but when Brandon decided they would be bureaucrats, he wanted a new name for them. A member of his writing group, Nate Hatfield came up with the term "obligator" from a thesaurus.{{annotationwob ref|mb1|chapter=122331}}{{wob ref|3045}}